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Garza scratched from rehab start due to arm soreness

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Garza on recovery timeline 1:40

Cubs pitcher Matt Garza discusses his recovery timeline from a strained left lat and how he's not yet ready to throw off the mound

By Carrie Muskat
/
MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- Cubs pitcher Matt Garza was scratched from his Minor League rehab start, scheduled for Wednesday, because of some soreness in his right arm, which general manager Jed Hoyer said was similar to the "dead arm phase" many pitchers go through in Spring Training.

Garza has been trying to come back from a strained left lat sustained Feb. 17 during a live batting practice session in Spring Training. He did not pitch in any spring games, and threw two innings in a simulated game on Friday at Miller Park. The right-hander was scheduled to pitch Wednesday for Double-A Tennessee, but he will now be shut down and then throw a bullpen.

"It's all muscular, nothing structural," Hoyer said Tuesday. "We'll give him a couple days, throw a bullpen and get him right back on schedule."

Hoyer said Garza did not bounce back quickly after his last bullpen, which was Sunday in Milwaukee with the Cubs.

"We're certainly hopeful it's a dead arm [thing]," Hoyer said. "It's a muscle and forearm and biceps, kind of a dead arm period thing. We're hopeful he takes a couple days, throws a bullpen and gets back out there."

The good news, as far as the Cubs are concerned, is that Garza's problems have nothing to do with his right elbow, which shut him down last July.